Guardian Cryptic #29286

2024-01-23

Solve on Guardian →

Across

1a

Vocal practice: feed into the endless calling (6,7)

Generating...

I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:

OATS="feed" e.g. for horses; inside TH-[e] ("the", endless) + RINGING="calling"

10a

The first to look away, due to star exploding (9)

Generating...

I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:

definition: if you are outstared, you are the first to look away anagram/"exploding" of (due to star)*

11a

Sound of ignominious defeat, unholy alliance originally having done U-turn (5)

Generating...

I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:

first letters ("originally") of: O-[f] I-[gnominious] D-[efeat] U-[nholy] A-[lliance], reversed ("having done U-turn")

12a

Maiden voyage by small destroyer leaving America (5)

flowerflowerflower
13a

See 8 Down

14a

Tempers are initially absent where unmarried couples live together? (5,2)

flowerflowerflower
16a

Arm broke, then leg, ultimately in shock (4,3)

Generating...

I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:

definition: a type of submachine gun, 'arm' as in weapon last letters ("ultimately") from [brok]-E [the]-N [le]-G; inside STUN="shock"

18a

Players in Irish barony once defeated competitor (4-3)

flowerflowerflower
20a

Merit a couple of eggs from French waiter? (7)

flowerflowerflower
21a

Umpteen converts set about Catholic, small proportion (3,6)

Generating...

I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:

anagram/"converts" of (Umpteen)*, around RC (Roman Catholic)

23a

Am I less than friendly guy? (5)

Generating...

I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:

definition: "guy" as in a guy rope or cable used e.g. to secure a tent " Am I ", removed from [ AMI ]-CABLE="friendly"

24a

Classic line in game of cricket effective, at first (5)

Generating...

I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:

L (line), in ODI (One Day International, "game of cricket"); plus first letter of E-[ffective]

25a

An Italian city'sone in the US? (9)

Generating...

I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:

definition: a city in Maryland, US AN (from surface); + NAPOLI'S="Italian city's" – Napoli is the Italian name for Naples

26a

I smiled if worried about discontentment in career: isthat it? (7,6)

Generating...

I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:

not sure about definition: 'that it?' could be a question on one's mind in a midlife crisis ('is this all there is to [my] life?') …or, it could refer back to the worries and discontentment earlier in the surface anagram/"worried" of (I smiled if)*; around C-aree-R ('discontented': contents removed) plus IS (from surface)

Down

2d

Random: this is more, though not entirely, haphazard (3-2-4)

Generating...

I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:

anagram/"Random" of (this is mor[e])*, "not entirely" indicating removal of the final letter from "more"

3d

Cap off cook (5)

flowerflowerflower
4d

Action of football player by virtue of good result (5-2)

flowerflowerflower
5d

Marks in Germany invested in playing tennis (7)

Generating...

I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:

D (Deutschland, "Germany") in anagram/"playing" of (tennis)*

6d

Awkward when leader of gang short of competition? (9)

Generating...

I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:

G-[ang] (leader of gang) + RACE-LESS=not having a race [i.e. a competition]="short of competition"

7d

Gentle encouragement good in painting? (5)

flowerflowerflower
8d
13a

Spare outside left brought in by West Ham, top's beaten bottom in Blackburn Rovers football team (13,9)

Generating...
9d

Ridiculous piece nurse cuts off having opened Uncle Sam's zip? (8,5)

Generating...

I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:

SEN (State Enrolled Nurse) + SEVERS="cuts off"; both inside NONE="zip" (US usage, so "Uncle Sam's")

15d

Benefit increase with ever-changing investment? (5,4)

Generating...

I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:

SWELL="increase", with anagram/"changing" of (ever)* invested inside

17d

Supermarket after things with squashed flies in the middle for biscuit (9)

Generating...

I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:

a Garibaldi biscuit has a layer of currants often described as 'squashed flies' ALDI="Supermarket" brand; after GARB="things" with the middle of [fl]-I-[es] squashed inside 'clothes'/garb is one meaning of "things"

19d

Really lacking in energy, on going uphill around hospital (3,4)

Generating...

I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:

FLAT="lacking in energy" + ON; all reversed (going uphill); and around H (hospital)

20d

Very bad day, one covered by last month (7)

Generating...

I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:

MON (Monday) + I="one"; all inside DEC (December, "last month")

22d

Head cut from nail with two straight lines (5)

flowerflowerflower
23d

Isle in 124 days? (5)

Generating...

I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:

124 becomes 100 and 24 C=100 in Roman numerals 24 days out of April's 30 days is four fifths of April, or four of the five letters of APRI-[L]